This is the kind of movie where checking your brain at the door helps a great deal. It's odd, goofy, and fun. Plus, it's always fun to see Bela Lugosi.

Off-the-wall British comedy with a plastering of slapstick. Stars English music hall comic Arthur Lucan in drag as a shop keeper/scullery maid and Bela Lugosi as a vampire/mad scientist. Plus there is a robot that doubles as an AM radio. Following me so far? Lugosi is fine and looks ten years younger than he did just one year later when he "narrated" Ed Wood's "Glen or Glenda." Arthur Lucan can be experienced but not described. At first you're not sure if he's a woman -- then you thank God he's not. When he turns on the slapstick, which there isn't enough of, he's very funny -- other times, not so much. Anyway, about the plot.....nah, you don't need to know nothin' about no stinkin' plot.

This romp is like a trashy novel you can't put down until you find out how the damn thing ends; only in this case you're waiting to see what loopy thing happens next. I'm giving it three stars, but I know I'll hate myself in the morning.

I Loved This. It was not great, but it was very enjoyable to sit through. Smiled throughout. Yes it was goofy. Yes the plot was awful. Yes the effects were hideous. But with Mother Riley, all that seems to fit, and fit very well. Difficult to explain, but a must see. You will either love it, or hate it, and you will know within the first 15 minutes which. The opening number Finger in the air... Awesomely original and out of place all at the same time, which made me all the more curious to see it to the end. Glad I did. Looking for more Mother Riley.

Slapsitick, one liners and Bela! Film is in pretty good shape (a few dumpouts), A lot of the one liners could have been about the govt. as I sort of didn't get some of them. Lugosi is in pretty fine shape in this one, the addiction had not really taken it's toll on him at this point. It's worth a look see.

A must see !!

Bela Lugosi plays a mad scientist, known to the public as The Vampire, who has been having young women kidnapped. Their bodies are found drained of blood. He's apparently using the blood to stay young, though that storyline goes nowhere, and the why of it is never clear. (Lugosi looks terrible in this, in need of makeup.) Instead, his plan for world domination is central to the story, which inadvertently entangles Mother Riley, played by Arthur Lucan, who of course ultimately defeats him.

It's a slapstick comedy full of physical humor, one-liners, word play, and sight gags. There's also a choreographed musical number. I didn't think much of any of this. In fact, I thought the movie was a bore.

In the first act Mother Riley is being hounded by an agent trying to get past rent owed, and he calls her a faggot in exasperation. I looked up the usage, and it apparently meant grumpy old woman.

You can watch an interview with Lugosi where he's asked about the movie.

I downloaded the 691MB DivX file. Video and audio quality are fine, but for some missing frames in the first act and bad points at reel changes.